Ghana gov’t secures $35m India credit to revive sugar factory

The Government  of Ghana has sourced $35 million loan from India for the reconstruction  of  Komenda Sugar factory  in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA)  District  of the Central  Region.

The Government through the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund would also contribute one million dollars towards the project, which would commence before the end of the year.

Mr  Hanura Iddrisu,  Minister of Trade and Industry, on Wednesday announced  these when he paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Komenda and Dutch Komenda  traditional areas, to officially inform them about Government’s readiness to commence work on the factory.

He said the project would be executed by SEFTECH India Private Limited, an Indian based company.

The Minister said that the Government has sourced an additional a $24 million loan from India to start an irrigation project for the growing of sugar cane.

Mr Iddrisu said 1, 5000 acres of land would be used for the planting of sugar cane, out of which 1,000 acres would be owned by the factory whiles 500 would go to out growers.

He said the sugar factory would create jobs and produce raw materials for pharmaceutical and   confectionary industries, adding that, currently, the country imports about 300.000 tonnes of sugar.

Nana kojokru III, Omanhen of Komenda Traditional Area, commended the Government for planning to bring back the sugar industry, and pledged that the people would support the initiative.

He said: “we have suffered a lot, governments upon governments have promised to revive this factory but all to no avail.

Nana Dr Arthur, Member of Parliament for KEEA, appealed to SEFTECH India Private Limited  to employ local labour for the reconstruction of the factory

The Minister  was accompanied by the Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong , Nana Dr Ato Arthur, former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Joseph Annan,  and the Municipal  Chief  Executive of KEEA,  Mr  Isaac Sam.

They visited the construction site of the factory.

Source: GNA